HOPEWELL, Va. -- The water from the Appomattox River has passed a Virginia Health Department approved water test and there is no contamination in the water supply. Virginia American Water will begin to pump water again soon.
City of Hopewell officials held two press conferences Tuesday to address the Virginia American Water shutdown of its water treatment plantin Hopewell after an estimated 600 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the Appomattox River late Monday.
“We have confidence that they (Virginia American Water) will do the very best to get us back online,” said Mayor Brenda S. Pelham. “We encourage people to conserve.”
The mayor added that citizens should also conserve the bottled and bulk water they will eventually receive from the city.
Pelham compared this water shortage situation to a "hurricane without the storm."
City Manager Mark A. Haley confirmed that the city is in a state of emergency and is encouraging people to conserve what water they have.
“You really miss water when you don’t have it,” Haley exclaimed.
Haley said that the city will utilize all of its social media resources and stressed that all citizens use 804-446-0282 as a water emergency hotline rather than 911, unless it is a true emergency.
At some point this evening, bulk water for public distribution will be delivered to Carter G. Woodson Middle School (1000 Winston Churchill Drive, Hopewell, 23860) and bottled water will be delivered to Hopewell High (400 S. Mesa Drive, Hopewell, 23860).
This is a developing story. Stay with CBS 6 and WTVR.com for continuing updates.
